Game of skill



J. H. KEENEY GAME oF SKILL Filed UGT... 6, 1951 immane-s;

2 Sheets-Sheet l ENVENTOR J. H. KEENEY GAME OF SKILL Juny 517, w34.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1951 INVENTOR 1 HIS ATTORNEVS Patented July 17, 1934 `GAME` F SKILL JolmH. Keeney, Chicago, Ill.

fApplication-0ctober 6, 1931, Serial No. 567,232

6 Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in a game dfV skill, and; has for its principal object the provision of lan improved construction of this character which will be entertaining in 15 ruse'and economical to manufacture.

rIt is an objectv of this invention to provide a new and Aentertaining game of skill.

Otherobjects of the invention are to provide an improved andv entertaining Igaine of 'skillfembodying the luse of ballspto provide a novelarrange- `ment ofball-re'ceiving scoring pockets; and to A enhancefthe interest'of -the player by promoting theelement of chance and personalV skill.

Other' objects will appearhereinafter.

The-invention consists' in the novel combina- -tionfand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Theinvention vwill `be'best'understood by reference 'to the Vaccompanyingdrawings, showing 20 the preferred form of 'constructionand in which:

Fig. 1 is 'atop Vplan view of 'a preferred 'construction 'of the invention;

"Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal sectional `View on line A2--2 in Fig. `l;

Fig.v 3 is fa transverse sectional view onV line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4`isa bottompl'anfviewjpartly in section, on line 4 4 in Fig. V2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-'5'in Fig. 4; `Fig.-`6is a sectionalfview on line {5;6 inFig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 in Fig. 4; Fig.f8 isfasectionalview online 3 8 in Fig. 5; and

Fig.9 is a1sectional view on line 9 9 in Figx. In the drawings, fwhich-illustratesa preferred and practical-embodimentiof the invention, 10 indicates generally "a "cabinet supported `on legs '11. rv'Includedinthecabinet'10 is--toppanel 12 in which is a transparent plate 13. Arranged-bel'owlthe'transparent plate 13 is aT member 14 which provides yaplaying surface on which balls, 'such as 15, are played in a'mann'erto be described hereinafter. Leadingfrom a'ball receiving chamber 17 providedinthe cabinetfonto the playing ysurface 14is airain-p16 (Figs` 3 'and 7) ,"the base 18 of which -is continuous with the linclined base 19 of the ball-receiving'chamber 17 (Fig. 7). Mounted inplatesl20 on th'ecabinet is agui`de'22 in which a plungeroriball-projecting elemerit -23 is slidable said element l having a lhead V24 'that is movable over the inclined base 19 of theballreceiving-chamber. 'A spring 25 is provided on the element 23 between the head 24 and the plate 21, to urge the head 24 against the ball l5 when r the player grasps the handle 26 and retracts the velement 23 to compress the spring 25 whereby the ball 15 will be projected fover the inclined Vbase 19 of the ball-receivingchamber 1`7`up"finto 'the ramp 16 and thence out onto the playing area 14. A bumper 27 is'preferably provided on the 60 transparentplate 13' at the point (Fig. "7) vwhere the base 19' of theball-receiving chamber r opens 'into the ramp 16 to prevent damage to the plate 13 by the impact of the ball. As the ball emerges fromy the ramp 16 it may be directedl by a curved wall or'ibank 28 in the direction of the arrows 29 (Fig. 1) and may strike a stop V`30'whe`r`eby the Vballwill rebound in thel direction of thearrow 31 and, depending uponfthe skill with `which'the ball-projecting element 23 has been manipulated vby the player, the ball'may be' causedto rebound overintoth'e markedV oifportion' 32 Aof thearea 14, or it may remain outside thereof in the area 14. The base 14, on the upper surface of whichthe area is dened,vis inclinedtowa'rd thev head end v75 of the cabinet, Fig. 1, whereby when the ball is directed up out of therarrzp 16 into the area 14 but'has not suiiicient momentum totravel to the stop 30, or when the'lball is deectedby'the latter onto the area 14, the ball will run downthefarea 80 14 into'one of the ball-receiving pockets 33 which may be markedwith any desired scoring values.

yWhen theball A1'5 is in one of thepo'ckets 33 it rests upon af trap 34 thatV is hinged to'the member -14,"as at 35. Adapted'toj'rele'ase the trap 34 andthereby discharge thexballs onto 'an inclined runway 36 that directs the balls through inlet 62 to the ball receiving 'chamber 17 is "a springurged slidablefrod 37. fROd-S'I'has an'enlarged vportion 53 thatis-bored to receive a rod 52 that 90 extends through this'fporti'on 53 below the trap 34 (Figs. 4, 5, and'8); On the'fend portions of rod 52 are coil'bumper springs 54. Each of these springs 54 has oneend-attacliedfto therod 52- and fea'ch of ythese springs '(Fig. -8) vb'earsagainst a 95 depending cam face 56 on the trap-34. l-When the -`slide'rod 37ismoved to theleft (Figs.-2, 4,and' 5) the trap 34 'drops by Ygravity ito discharge the balls from the pockets 33 onto the runway 36. This movement of rod 37 vtensions a spring 55 which-has one endffixecl below the member '14 and its-other end attached toarod 51 that is similar to rod 52. When the slide-rod 37 is released the spring returns the rod 37-to its initial position and-the springs 54 on rodf52 bear against 105 4thecamfaces 56 on the trap 34'and close 4trap 34"-'whil'e similar springs on rod'5-1 close those 'traps 48 that-are arrange'd-l laterallyffi'romfrod''l. The rod 37 is coin controlled and a suitable coin controlled mechanism therefor is indicated 1110 diagrammatically at 38, but is not illustrated in detail since the same forms no part of this invention, whereby in order to operate the rod 37 and discharge the balls 15 onto the runway 36 to the ball-receiving chamber a coin must be paid into the mechanisms 38.

The plunger 23 acts as a gate to control the inlet 62 from the inclined runway 36 to the ballreceiving chamber 17 into which a ball may pass each time the plunger 23 is retracted intoballprojecting position.

Arranged at intervals on the area 14 are obstacles such as pins 39 which are adapted to deflect the ball from a straight course as it rolls down the area 14 toward the pockets 33 whereby to increase the scoring hazard ofthe ball.

The highest scoring values are marked in concentric circular areas or ball receiving pockets 40 arranged at various points within the diamond 32 (Fig. l). Each of these circular areas or pockets is defined by an outer upstanding wall 41 on the member 14, which is continuous With a row of pickets 42. In the row of pickets a gap 43 is formed to provide a ball inlet to the outer circle or pocket (Fig. 1). Arranged within each outer circle is an upstanding wall 44 in which is provided a ball inlet 45 that is closed by a swinging door 46 that is mounted on brackets 47 provided on the casting 49.

Skill is required to manipulate the ball projecting element 23 so as to direct the ball from the ramp 16 directly, or from the stop 30, into the entrance 43 from which the ball may roll around the outer circle or pocket or, passing through swinging door 46, enter the inner circle or pocket; but in either event the ball will come to rest upon the trap 48 which is hinged as at 50 to the casting 49 (Figs. 5 and 6) that includes the upstanding walls 41 and 44.

When the rod 37 is slid to the left (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) the traps 48 that are arranged axially of the rod 37 drop by gravity and when the rod 37 is returned by spring 55 to its initial position the traps 48 that are arranged axially along the rod 37 are closed by springs on the rods 57 that are similar to the springs 54 on the rod 52 (Figs. 8 and 9).

'Ihe coin control mechanism 38 includes a slide bar 58. A spring 59 has one end attached to the slide bar 58 and its other end xed to a pin 60 which projects from a housing or bearing 6l for the rod 37; said housing being attached to the cabinet 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus, comprising a member providing a playing surface, ball-receiving pockets arranged on said playing surface, a pivotal gravity-operated trap arranged under each of said pockets, said traps being hinged to said member, a ball-receiving chamber having an inlet, a ramp leading from said chamber to the playing surface, a runway to conduct the balls from said traps to said inlet, slidable ball-projecting means in said chamber providing a gate normally closing said inlet, and a slidable mechanism for closing the traps said mechanism normally retaining said traps in closed position against the attraction of gravity.

2. A game apparatus, comprising a member providing a playing surface, ball-receiving pockets arranged on said playing surface, a pivotal gravity-operated trap arranged under each of said pockets, said traps being hinged to said member, a ball-receiving chamber having an inlet, a ramp leading from said chamber to the playing surface, a runway to conduct the balls from said traps to said inlet, slidable ball-projecting means in said chamber providing a gate normally closing said inlet, and a mechanism for closing said traps, said mechanism normally retaining said traps in closed position against the attraction of gravity, said mechanism including a slidable member, members carried by and projecting laterally from said slidable member, and spring members on said laterally projecting members having portions bearing against said traps to hold the same in closed position.

3. A game apparatus, comprising a member providing a playing surface having ball outlets arranged therein, a pivotal gravity-operated trap arranged at each of said outlets, said traps being hinged to said member, a ball-receiving chamber having communication with said playing surface, a runway for conducting balls from said outlets to said chamber, ball-projecting means in said chamber', and a mechanism for closing said traps, said mechanism normally retaining said traps in closed position against the attraction of gravity.

4. A game apparatus, comprising a member providing a playing surface having ball outlets arranged therein, a pivotal gravity-operated trap arranged at each of said outlets, said traps being hinged to said member, a ball-receiving chamber having communication with said playing surface, a runway for conducting balls from said outlets to said chamber, ball-projecting means in said chamber, and a mechanism for closing said traps, said mechanism normally retaining said traps in closed position against the attraction of gravity, said mechanism including a slidable member and members carried by and projecting laterally from said slidable member having springs thereon bearing against said traps to retain the same in closed position.

5. A game device of the type described comprising a board having thereon a plurality of numbered compartments, traps forming part of the floor of each compartment, a cam extending downwardly from each trap, a member adapted to bear against said cams to hold the traps closed and movable relative to said `cams to allow the traps to open.

6. A game device of the type described comprising a board having thereon a plurality of numbered compartments, traps forming part of the floor of each compartment, a cam extending downwardly from each trap, a member mounted beneath the traps and extending longitudinally' of the game board, horizontally extending bars mounted on said member and extending at right angles thereto and adapted to contact with said cams to hold the traps closed and being movable relative to said cams to allow the traps to open.

JOHN H. KEENEY. 

